Brassiere with cups attachable by zipper means



TACHABLE BY ZIPPER MEANS Feb. 4, 1969 D. STEINBERGER BHASSIEHE WITH CUPS AT Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet INVENTOR Sez' berger Feb' 4, 1969 i l D. sTElNBERGER 3,425,420?

BRASSIERE WITH CUPS ATTACHABLE BY ZIPPER MEANS Filed DBC. 5, 1966 Sheet 2 of4 7o/"a Stew/jerga' BRASSIERE WITH CUPS ATTACHABLE BY ZIPPER MEANS Filedk Dec. 5, 1966 Feb. 4, 1969 D. STEINBERGER Sheet erger Feb. 4, 1969 D. STEINBERGER 3,425,420V

BRASSIERE WITH CUPS ATT-ACHABLE BY ZIPPER MEANS Sheet F'led Dec. 5, 1966 INVENTOR Jzemberger United States Patent O 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE A strapless brassiere having removable breast pockets which are removable selectively from the front of the garment when it is desired to feed an infant. 'Ille brassiere includes a body having end, central and intermediate panels. Means is provided on the end panels for fastening the body around the body of the wearer. The central panel has cutout portions inthe top ed-ge thereof, and removably secured to such cutout portions are breast pocket structures, such securement including co-acting zipper fastener elements on the cutout portions and on the ibreast pocket structures.

When wearing a conventional brassiere, in order to feed an infant from the breasts, it is necessary to unfasten and remove the brassiere which is usually fastened at the rear thereby making such removal very difficult. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a brassiere with removable breast pockets which are removable selectively from the front of the garment when it is desired to feed an infant.

In the ordinary brassiere, the lower edges of the pockets are reinforced with semirigid strips for reinforcing the pockets and keeping their shapes. It is another object of the present invention to provide breast pockets that maintain their shapes without such reinforcing devices.

Another'object according to a modification of the invention is to provide a strapless brassiere with removable breast pockets. Brassieres of this type which have contrived to stay in place, have ldone so at the expense of comfort or freedom of movement of the wearer, often by vise-like grip on the wearers breasts and by the garment being supported by the breasts rather than contributing to the support thereof. A further object is to provide a strapless brassiere that will give as much uplift and support to the breasts as may be reasonably desired for pleasing and conventional appearance and will afford modest concealment, but-which will exert no uncomfortable confinement or restraint upon the wearer, an'd on the other hand will permit the wearer to indulge in all reasonable manner of bodily movement incident, for example, to dancing and housework without concern that the garment will fail in any of its intended mechanical or aesthetic functions.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a brassiere that is simple in design and construction and easy to launder the garment as well as manufacture the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brassiere which constitutes a continuous supporting band about the upper part of the body.

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A further object of the invention is to provide separable bust sections with fastening means for eifecting a close, smooth iit with capability of speedy manipulation.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a brassiere embodying one form of the invention in flat condition, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the brassiere as in use, with one of the breast .pockets removed and shown in inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the rear of a breast pocket, on an enlarged scale, parts being omitted.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a brassiere embodying a modified form of the invention shown as in use and with one of the breast pockets partly displaced and with a hand showing the manner of removing the pocket.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the pocket completely removed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 7 7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a similar view taken on the plane of the line 8 8 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in ydetail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. l, a brassiere made in accordance with the invention is shown and designated generally at 10i. The brassiere 10 com-prises a substantially rectangular fabric body f12 with narrow end flap 14 and a wider end ap 16. Hooks 18 are secured to the narrow -llap 14 and complementary eyes 20 to the wide flap 16 to secure the body around the wearer. The body includes end panels 22, 22, intermediate panels 24, 24 secured at one side to the end panels by rows of stitching 26 and secure'd at the other side by rows of stitching 28 to a central panel 30. The rows of stitching 28 together with closely spaced rows of stitching 32 define pockets for flexible reinforcing stiffening stays or bones 34. Elastic gussets 35 are preferably interposed between the intermediate panels 24 and end panels 22 at the bottom ends thereof. A triangular shaped strip 36 of lace is secured to the central panel 30, along the bottom and center of the panel, at the front thereof, by stitching 38. A similar strip 40 of lace is secured to the front of the central panel 30 abo-ve the strip 36, by stitching 42. A central stiffenin-g stay or bone 44 extends from the top to the bottom of the central panel 30 and is secured in a pocket formed by closely spaced rows of stitching 46, 46.

In accordance with the invention, the top end of the central panel 30 is cutaway on both sides of the central bone 44 las indicated at 50, the cut being semicircular in shape as best seen in FIG. 2. A separable fastener device or zipper fastener is secured along the edge of the cutout portion, which fastener includes a fabric tape 54 stitched to the material of the central panel along one long edge by stitching 56, the other edge of the tape supporting teeth or fastening elements 58 therealong. A narrow elongated elastic tape 59 is stitched along one long edge thereof to the tape 54 of the separable fastener device, the other free edge of the elastic tape extending outwardly into the cutout portion. A breast or bust pocket 60 of fabric material is detachably fastened to each separable fastener tape 54. 'I'he breast or bust pocket comprises a substantially conical shaped circular body 62 of fabric. Along the bottom edge of the body extending for more than 180 therearound, a separable fastener fabric tape 64 is stitched along one long edge to the material of the body of the pocket along its bottom edge by row of stitching 66.

The free end edge of the tape projects outwardly forming an extension of the edge of the pocket thereat and supports teeth or fastening elements 68 therealong which by means of slider 69 coact with the teeth or fastening elements 58 on the central panel 30 of the body 12 for detachably fastening the pocket to the top of the central portion, the top edge of the pocket extending above the top edge of the body of the brassiere. Strips 70 of rufed lace may be stitched to the outer surface of the body to conceal the tape 64 of the fastener device by rows of stitching 72. A pair of fabric straps 74, 74 is provided supporting the brassiere on the shoulders of the wearer. Each strap has one end stitched to the top edge of the respective end panel 22 inwardly of the end flap 14 or 16 and its other end adjustably secured to a fabric loop 76 secured to the center of the upper protruding end edge of the body 62 of the respective pocket 60.

In use, when it is desired to feed an infant, one of the breast or bust pockets 60 may be readily removed by means of the zipper fastener device when the breast or bust may be projected outwardly of the cutout portion 50 as will be understood. In FIG. 2, for example, the right hand breast or bust pocket 60 is illustrated as removed. T-he removed pocket may readily be refastened by the zipper device.

In FIGS. to `8, inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown in the form of a strapless brassiere The brassier 10 differs from the brassiere 10, in addition to omitting the straps 74, by securing the breast or bust pocket structures 60 lixedly to the cutout portions S0 of the central panel by securing fabric tapes 64 to the top edges of the cutout portions along one long edge by rows of stitching 72' and securing the pocket structure to the other long edge of the tape by stitching 66. The bust structure 60 includes an inner fabric lining 80 secured along its bottom edge to the tape 64 by inturning its bottom end and by the row of stitching 72.

An important provision of the present form of the invention is the provision of a cover or shield 98 removably secured to the breast or bust pocket structure 60'. The cover 98 has a two-ply body of the same shape as the pocket structure 60', the material of the cover being opaque. The securement includes a separable or zipper fastener device 100 secured to the edge of the cutout portion 50', of the two-ply central panel 30 by the row of stitching 66 passing through the central panel 30 and through the tape 102 as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tape 102 carries teeth 58 along its other end edge.

The cover 98 carries a separable fastener or zipper fastener device along its bottom edge as viewed in FIG. 5, including a tape 104 secured by a row of stitching 106 passing through the cover and tape. Teeth 108 are carried on the free end edge of the tape 104. A slider 110 is operatively connected to the teeth 108.

The breast or bust pocket structure 60' comprises a twoply body 80, a lining 82 and a filler 84 secured together `along the bottom edges thereof as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8 by a fabric tape 86 therealong and a row of stitching 72' passing through the bottom edges of the tape 86, body 80, lining 82 and filler 84 and through the top end edge` of the central panel 30. The two-ply body 80 includes an inner ply 88 or lightweight transparent mesh, and an outer ply 89 formed of heavier translucent fabric. The filler 84 extends only part way to the top of the structure and is formed of opaque material, with a little dip 90 in the top edge thereof. The body 80, lining 82 and ller 84 are secured to the top edge of the tape 86 by a row of stitching 92. The top edge of the lining 82 is attached to the body 80 at its center by la single stitch 94, the remainder of the lining being unattached except at its bottom edge.

In FIG. 5, the covers 98 are shown in operative position covering the pocket structures 60 with the teeth 58' and 106 in interlocking relation holding the covers in position. The cover 98 in the right hand side of FIG. 5 is shown partly separated from the pocket structure 60 and in FIG. 6, said cover is illustrated as completely removed.

In using the modified form of brassiere 10', for ordinary wear the covers 98 are left in position to cover the breast pocket structure 60 concealing the form of the breast or bust of the wearer from view. For evening wear, the cover 98 may be readily removed in order to expose the shape of the breast or bust of the wearer, permitting the brassier to be used in a half push up manner for evening wear.

In all other respects, the brassiere 10 is similar to the brassiere 10 and similar reference characters are used t0 indicate similar parts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a brassiere having a body with end panels, a

Y central panel and intermediate panels, the central panel having cutout portions in the top end edge thereof and means on the end panels for fastening the body around the body of the wearer, the improvement which consists of breast pocket structures having portions removably secured to the cutout portions of the central panel, the securement of the portions of the pocket structures to the cutout portions of the central panel including co-acting zipper fastener elements on the edges of the cutout portions and on the removable portions of the pocket structures.

2. The brassiere as defined in claim 1, wherein the pocket structures are connected to the end panels by straps secured at one end to the top end edges of the pocket structures and at the other end to the top end edges of the end panels, and lace ruliies along the bottom edges of the pocket structures for covering the zipper fastener elements.

3. In a brassiere having a body with end panels, a central panel and intermediate panels, the central panel having cutout portions in the top end edge thereof and means on the end panels for fastening the body around the body 0f the wearer, the improvement which consists of breast pocket structures having portions removably secured to the cutout portions of the central panel, the breast pocket structures having two-ply bodies secured along their bottom edges to the edges of the cutout portions, fabric tapes` secured at one long edge along the edges of the cutout portions, other fabric tapes secured along one long edge to the first-named fabric tapes, teeth carried by said other tapes, and removable covers over the pocket structures, said covers carrying tapes with teeth co-acting with the teeth on said other tapes for removably securing the covers in place for the pocket structures and slide members associated with the teeth for opening and closing the same.

4. The brassiere as defined in claim 3, wherein the twoply bodies each include an inner ply of transparent mesh and an outer ply of translucent fabric and a filler between the outer and inner plies of opaque fabric, said ller ex- 5 6 tending only part way from one end to the other, with one References Cited end secured to the plies, the other end being unattached.

5. The brassiere as defined in claim 4 wherein the other UNITED STATES PATENTS unattached end edges of the fillers are dipped midway the 2,599,302' 6/1952 von Thaden 128456 ends thereof to expose the transparent inner plies. 5 2,654,091 10/1953 N elson 12S-456 6. The brassiere as defined in claim 3 wherein the 2,748,771 6/1956 Rlchards 128460 3,203,424 8/ 1965 Garutso 128-492 inner and outer plies are secured to each other along one end edge thereof and along the other end at its central point by a single stitch, the remainder of the edges of ADELE M' EAGERPnmmy Exammer the inner and outer plies being unattached, and wherein 10 U S C1 XR the other unattached end edges of the fillers are dipped midway the ends thereof to expose the transparent inner 128 506 512 plies. 

